Friday, April 29, 2011

Want to grab the attention of viewers with your next design and slap them in the face with it? If so, then thin, polite fonts probably won’t get the job done. Instead, thick, heavy duty fonts that scream for attention might do the trick.

These fonts are specifically designed for designers who aren’t afraid of taking risks by veering from traditionalist design trends. As such, if you think you’re prepared to take such as risk, consider using any of the following extra bold fonts in your next project.

1. High Contrast

Many extra bold fonts are characterized by their un-varying stroke sizes. You can use the fun font we illustrated above as a case in point. You’ll notice the letters are all exactly the same in stroke size. However, this may not be your desired option.

If you’re searching for a little more font contrast in an upcoming project, choose one of the following high contrast fonts we’ve indicated below. Varying from extra thick to ultra-thin, the strokes in these fonts make them highly popular. This is because they not only make an impact visually they also ooze a "feeling" of grace and class. Taking a risk doesn’t mean you can’t do it with style!

2. Bold and Compact

The downside of extra bold fonts is how much space they typically consume. If you’re working on a compact design project but still want to make a statement with bold fonts, one of the following bold and compact choices may be the perfect option.

By being extra bold but consuming less space, they offer the best of both worlds. You’ll notice in the example below the strokes are still very dark and make an impact, but because they are condensed you can fit it into tight places. Just be careful you don’t over-use it, because it can end up making your space look cluttered and cramped if you go overboard.

And for most people, reading pages of bold font all on its own is hard on their eyes, so condensed fonts make it even harder. Chances are if you go overboard they’ll end up skipping right over something important.

3. Vintage

Sometimes, vintage and bold is just better. At least that’s the assumption with these fonts. When you want to portray a retro feel, use one of the following fonts for an impactful result. They are great for incorporating "emotion" into a design.

For instance the "scary" feel those old fashioned movie posters often portray. Or the slick artsy feel you might find on a museum advert. Anytime you want to inject a bit of "old school" into your project, vintage fonts are hands down a great way to do it.

4. Playful

While extra bold fonts are often loud, they don’t need to be insulting, or even classy, graceful, or retro. Sometimes they just want to be fun! If you want to retain a playful feel in your designs, consider using one of the following playful bold fonts. These fonts are great options for children-oriented designs or more relaxed projects.

They are a bit reminiscent of gingerbread cookies and sesame street murals. You’d also find these fonts used in the packaging design of many of today’s popular toys and other advertising geared toward youngsters and teenagers.

5. Heavy and Sans Serif

The following fonts are heavy, black and modern. They’re also great for achieving an in-your-face effect. Use these options when you want to make an impactful impression with a modern sans serif approach. You can also try combining a sans serif font (a font without feet) with a serif font (a font with feet) and mixing it up a bit.

It can be a little bit dangerous to mix and match fonts and the result can end up looking amateur, so experiment a bit and I’d recommend always getting a second opinion before going live with any project design.

6. Serif Bold

Perhaps sans serif isn’t the route you want to take. The following font options are for those traditionalists who love a good serif font. The combination of bold strokes and elegant serif detailing can be a great option for your next project.

Remember serif fonts are the fonts with "feet" (or the little detailing at the bottom of every letter that spreads out a bit) and can sometimes be combined with similar sans serif fonts for a great effect, often "old-fashioned" in mood.

7. The Boldest of Bold

Before proceeding, you must be prepared for the consequences of these extra bold fonts. These are the boldest of bold, the blackest of black and should be used with the utmost of care. To make the ultimate personality statement with your next project, consider using one of these boldest of bold options.

The downside is that these types of fonts should be used very sparingly. They can at times be hard to read clearly or easily and too much of a good thing can ruin the look you’re trying to achieve. So have fun, but proceed with caution when using the boldest of the bold. You’ll often find fonts like these used by DJ’s to blare out an advertisement on where their next gig will be, to entice people to come in and see them mix. You’ll also often find fonts like these on CD covers!

Conclusion

While extra bold fonts aren’t appropriate for all designs, they are sometimes exactly what your projects crave. Play around with different font combination such as pairing an extra bold font with an ultra-thin one for great effects. However, by using extra bold fonts, you must be prepared for the consequences, such as bolder statements and increased risk taking.

Most people are no longer buying cases and pouches simply to protect their iPhones; we want something which we feel good having. Much as having an iPhone versus a Blackberry or a HTC phone gives a statement about the kind of person you are, you might still wish to stand out from the growing iPhone crowd and claim an identity for yourself. One way to do that is to personalize your iPhone by equipping it with a casing or pouch that represents who you are. You may go for the cutesy cartoonish ones, the no-nonsense businessman kind or the geeky techy style – it’s all up to you.

With the surge in iPhone ownership over the past few years, it’s not surprising to find that there is now a large variety of iPhone casings and pouches in the market to cater to iPhone users. Apple is all about creativity, so iPhone users like myself crave originality in designs more than anything else. The list below consists of some of the most striking designs I could find on the market in terms of its aesthetic and protective functionality, and perhaps most crucially, the overall feel of it. Do check out the source of the casing or pouches if you are interested in purchasing them!

Casings

Grip Ergo with StrapThe cool wavy texture on this rubber casing reduces the chances of slipping your iPhone 4 out of your hand by providing a safe and secure grip. (via Belkin)

CrystalRoc Swarovski Iphone 4You’ll like this if you crave for the glamor lifestyle with shiny glittering crystals on things you own. (via CrystalRoc)

GeoMetric CaseLife is not perfect; not everything we see is as smooth as we want them to be. This case says it all with its asymmetrical textured side which makes it unique from the rest of the casings we see every day. (via Speck)

ToughSkin CaseWhether you are an adventurer who loves outdoor activities or the careless person who drop or bump your phone countless number of times, this ToughSkin case is your defense against physical abuse of any sorts to your iPhone.

DeflectorSmooth and clean design brings out the simplicity in you. (via Uncommon)

ZeroChroma TeatroA rather functional piece of casing that enables users to place their iPhone upright with a built-in stand at the back. Great if you are watching movies on your iPhone on your desk. (via Art of the iPhone)

Trident Cyclops Hybrid CaseLooking for a case that offers maximum protection? Then the Cyclops case is for you, with its hard shell for both the front and the back of the phone, topped off with a silicone rubber band to protect the edge.

The New Vapor Pro Limited EditionThis is one of the most pricey casing around, but it might well be worth it. It’s light, stylish and safeguards your phone against scratches and negligent mechanical damages. Dig this, it even has an aerospace polymer insert to counter potential connectivity issues you have when you grip your phone. (via Element Case)

Perforated Snap CaseSome of us may be concerned that certain casings trap heat and drain the battery life out of the phone. Well, this perforated case probably reduces that likelihood. (via Incase)

iWood 4 CobraThis polished wood makes a very refined casing for your iPhone. It’s a play of contrast between your hi-tech phone and the traditional woodpiece as your covering. (via Miniot)

Stacks CaseThis case offers customization by allowing for the flexibility to stack six different colored pieces to your own preferences to create your own distinctive modern design. (via Case-mate)

Waddler CaseA penguin-inspired theme for your iPhone casing, available in different colours.

Facets CaseGeometrical patterns on a slim case gives a very modern feel to your iPhone.

Black Retro Cassette Tape Silicone CaseReturn in time to the decades before 2000 when cassette tapes were the primary medium for transmitting music to your earphones from your walkman. (via Blue Unplugged)

Pouches

Hoodie SweaterEven iPhones want to make a fashion statement by suiting up this hoodie sweater. (via SplashingKoi)

DomoCan’t get enough of everyone’s favorite monster, Domo? Get this adorable pouch and amuse your friends each time you need to check your messages on your iPhone. (via SydneyAngel)

BENDER FuturamaFor those of you who are fans of Futurama, you’ll identify this pouch as the face of Bender Bending Rodríguez. The amazing thing about it is that it is hand-made from high-quality wool felt blend, so you can be sure it will feel good on your hands. (via Nokomomo)

NES Nintendo Entertainment System Control PadRemember back in the 80s’ when NES Nintendo console was the ‘in’ thing? This will definitely send you reminiscencing those times you spent playing Super Mario all day long. (via EgoorEngland)

GameboyYet another pouch to flood you with memories of your younger days. Before PSP and iPhones, we had gameboy.